Home Integrator
LUXURY HOMES DESIGNED FOR COMFORT AND CONNECTIVITY
Interview with Abdulrahman Abdulla Alhelo Alsuwaidi, Co-founder & Chairman, Nabni Developments.
As Co-founder and Chairman, how do you balance strategic vision with day-to-day operational decisions for multiple high-profile projects?
At Nabni, our vision is rooted in a family legacy of long-term thinking, trust, and building with purpose. My role is to safeguard that vision, along with my brother Badr, ensuring every project reflects our values, quality standards and commitment to enduring value. We rely on a strong and experienced leadership team to manage execution, but stay closely involved in strategic decisions that impact the Nabni brand and long-term positioning. As the third generation of our family joins the business, we continue to pass on our values while welcoming fresh, more youthful and often innovative, perspectives that challenge the status quo. This approach allows us to scale responsibly, remain agile in Dubai’s dynamic market and deliver developments that stand the test of time.
What inspired your focus on luxury, design-led residences with a local yet international aesthetic?
Being an Emirati family business with a legacy dating back to 1953, we aspire to always portray our heritage – but in a refined and contemporary content. We balance international style with considered Middle Eastern design elements, addressing an audience of educated buyers who are looking for the best that modern-day living has to offer in our city. At the heart of everything we do is the desire to create something extraordinary, led by our passion, imagination and commitment to detail. For us, quality sets up apart and comes above all else, whether that is in our Nabni Avenue-branded series of developments or the Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Business Bay, the crown of our portfolio.
How do you define success – not just for the company, but for yourself personally?
For me, success is never measured by numbers alone. It’s about creating lasting value – for our customers, our partners, and our city. At Nabni, every decision we make is guided by an uncompromising commitment to quality. If a home we deliver can stand the test of time, enrich lives, and reflect the trust people place in our name, then we have succeeded. I take pride in knowing that what we build today will serve generations tomorrow. Success, to me, is leaving behind a legacy of excellence – where every detail speaks of integrity, craftsmanship, and purpose.

With 65% of Nabni Avenue 7 units already sold, what does this say about the brand’s market reputation?
My father instilled in us the importance of never compromising on quality, and this principle continues to define our approach today as I’ve already mentioned. The Nabni name has become synonymous with quality over the years – from our landmark commercial projects such as Business Avenue and building the world’s largest Lamborghini Showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road, and in more recent years, diversification into residential. Our projects work towards positioning Dubai as a destination for the world’s most discerning buyers, benchmarking against the highest international standards. We create products that we would be proud to own and personally live in. Quality is our true passion and a differentiator; we build for the generations of the future.
What role does European and international sourcing play in defining Nabni’s luxury identity?
It is extremely important to our business model, because we pride ourselves on offering top level fixtures and fittings across all our developments. For example, marble is sourced from Italy and appliances from Germany, ensuring the highest standards of craftsmanship as well as durability. We work exclusively with premium materials that not only reflect global excellence in design but are thoughtfully chosen to keep up with the challenging UAE climate. Saying this, our philosophy is based on a deep understanding of local standards, expectations, and context – allowing us to create homes that feel refined and entirely aligned with the essence of our city.
How does the brand maintain appeal for both investors and end-users looking for lifestyle-driven residences?
Throughout our residential portfolio, we combine strong investment fundamentals with lifestyle-focused design and lifestyle. In the series of Nabni Avenue Residences in Al Furjan for example, we tick many boxes: prime location, high-end build quality and curated amenities mean it becomes an attractive investment with strong rental and resale potential, while also offering residents a sense of community and a modern, comfortable living environment.

Similarly, Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Business Bay reflects our commitment to premium lifestyle living, with world-class design by famed architect Carlos Ott, interiors by design masters HBA, unrivalled amenities and bespoke services. This branded residence model, especially with such a storied name as the Waldorf Astoria, ensures end-users an elevated urban experience and provides investors with a high-demand, globally recognized asset. Every Nabni development is designed to provide long-term value.
How does Nabni integrate modern smart-home technology without compromising design aesthetics?
At Nabni, we view technology as an enabler – a way to enhance comfort, security, and efficiency for our residents without compromising the elegance of our spaces. In developments like Nabni Avenue 7 and Waldorf Astoria Residences Dubai Business Bay, smart-home features are seamlessly integrated into the design, ensuring they complement rather than dominate the aesthetic. From intuitive lighting and climate control systems to advanced security and home automation, every solution is chosen for its ability to blend discreetly with our interiors. Our goal is to provide residents with convenience and connectivity that feels effortless, while maintaining the refined and timeless design language that defines our homes.
Home Feature
THE EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER SUMMER SHOPPING AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS UNDER ONE ROOF

As the summer holiday season begins, Jashanmal Group is set to bring its highly anticipated Warehouse Sale: Summer Edition to Cityland Mall Dubai. Following the overwhelming response to its recent Warehouse Sales in the region, the legacy retailer aims to create a family-focused sale for all ages.
The five-day shopping extravaganza taking place from June 24th to 28th is thoughtfully designed to offer a vibrant mix of shopping experiences. Adding to the experience, the Warehouse Sale: Summer Edition will feature a curated selection of premium international brands such as Kenwood, Clarks, Kipling, De’Longhi, BALLY, Hoover, Delsey Paris, Russell Hobbs and many more.
Commenting on the initiative Mr. Anurag Verma, Chief Distribution Officer, Jashanmal Group said, “Given the overwhelming popularity and enthusiastic response to our warehouse sales this year, truly a favorite among shoppers, we are thrilled to bring the highly anticipated Warehouse Sale Summer Edition to Dubai. Summer is a time when families come together, planning their travels and preparing for the season ahead, and it is truly the perfect time to shop. At Jashanmal, we bring together everything you need, offering a complete destination for all your summer shopping needs across multiple lifestyle categories.”
As the retail shopping experience continues to evolve in line with the changing consumer lifestyles and expectations, Jashanmal Group remains at the forefront of delivering immersive, experience-led engagements whether through unique retail concepts, seasonal campaigns and enhanced shopping experiences.
Aligned with the UAE Year of the Family, The Warehouse Sale: Summer Edition underscores the Group’s commitment to community focused initiatives, while celebrating the importance of family at the heart of life in the UAE.
Mr. Verma further added, “We are proud to offer an experience that reflects community spirit, togetherness and joy of shared moments. Through our upcoming sale, we are bringing together trusted brands, exciting experiences and attractive offers in one destination, creating a shopping event that the whole family can enjoy.”
Home Feature
WHY BRANDS MUST CONFIDENTLY CHAMPION A “MADE IN THE UAE” ETHOS AND MOVE AWAY FROM OVER-RELYING ON THE PRESTIGE OF IMPORTED PRODUCTS
By Carlo Magistretti, Chief Strategic Advisor, Sobha Furniture
For decades, premium furniture has been closely associated with established European manufacturing centres, particularly Italy, where design heritage, craftsmanship, and cultural influence have shaped global standards. That reputation is deserved. But the global landscape has changed.
Today, the conversation around premium products can no longer be defined by where something has traditionally been made. It must be defined by the quality of design, the precision of execution, the consistency of production, and the value delivered to the customer.

The UAE is a powerful example of this shift.
This is a country built on ambition, but more importantly, on the ability to turn ambition into reality. It is a place where bold ideas are not left as concepts. They are planned, engineered, built, and delivered at scale. From iconic skylines and world-class infrastructure to landmark hospitality and residential developments, the UAE has consistently shown the world what is possible when vision is matched with execution.
That same spirit is now shaping its manufacturing sector.
“Made in the UAE” is no longer a statement of convenience or proximity. Increasingly, it is becoming a mark of quality, capability, and confidence. It reflects a country that has invested deeply in industrial infrastructure, advanced technology, logistics, talent, and operational excellence to create a manufacturing ecosystem that can compete on a global stage.
The momentum behind this shift is clear. The UAE’s manufacturing industry recorded 7.7% growth in Q1 2025 and contributed 12.8% to non-oil GDP, underscoring the country’s growing industrial capability and its role in the wider economic vision.
For UAE-based businesses that continue to rely solely on imported products, whether from Italy or any other market traditionally associated with premium craftsmanship, there is a risk of overlooking what is happening here. The Emirates are no longer simply a destination for global products. They are becoming a place where global standards are created, manufactured, and delivered.
The premium furniture industry needs to recognise this change. Premium should not be reduced to geography. It should be measured by design integrity, material quality, manufacturing precision, service reliability, and the ability to deliver consistently. By those measures, UAE manufacturing is proving that it can stand alongside some of the most established production hubs in the world.
At Sobha Furniture, we have long believed that the future of premium furniture manufacturing is about integrating the design excellence and the manufacturing expertise within one fully integrated ecosystem.

This philosophy has shaped the way we build our business. Our own design teams in Milan – Italy draw on deep expertise in creating proportion, materiality, timeless aesthetics, and meaningful living solution while our manufacturing capabilities in the UAE ensure that these ideas are engineered, produced, finished, and delivered with precision.
This high level of integration is fundamental. In furniture, design and execution cannot exist as separate disciplines. A compelling design only achieves its full value when it is translated flawlessly into the finished product. By connecting design, engineering, manufacturing, finishing, and quality control within a unified process, innovation moves faster, customisation becomes more achievable, and the original design intent is preserved throughout every stage.
For customers, this translates into a more dependable experience, with greater transparency, rigorous quality assurance, enhanced flexibility, and confidence that every piece is delivered exactly as intended.
In recent years, global supply chains have faced repeated disruption, from shipping delays to material shortages and geopolitical pressures. Businesses that rely heavily on distant production networks have often found themselves vulnerable to factors beyond their control.
Manufacturing in the UAE changes that equation. It gives brands greater control over quality, timelines, and responsiveness. It also creates a clearer connection between a brand, its product, and its place of origin. From a customer’s perspective, that translates into confidence and trust.
This belief also shaped the launch of Flaer during Milan Design Week. Flaer represents a new expression of what a premium furniture brand from the UAE can be: globally minded, rooted in Italian design culture, and powered by the UAE’s ability to make ambitious ideas real. Presenting Flaer in Milan was not only a design statement, but a statement of confidence. It demonstrated that a brand conceived, manufactured, and built through the UAE’s capabilities can enter one of the world’s most influential design conversations with clarity and credibility.
This is the opportunity in front of us. The UAE has already earned a global reputation as a place where bold visions are realised. Now, that same reputation is extending into manufacturing, design, and industrial excellence.

The real question is no longer whether UAE manufacturing can compete internationally. The evidence increasingly shows that it can. The question is whether businesses are prepared to move beyond outdated assumptions and recognise the opportunity this shift presents.
As an industry, we must move beyond the belief that premium is synonymous with imported. Excellence can be designed globally, manufactured locally, and delivered to the world. The brands that embrace this mindset will not only strengthen their own competitiveness but will also help define the next chapter of global manufacturing.
The future of premium furniture will belong to those who can combine design excellence, manufacturing precision, operational control, and customer confidence into one seamless experience. The UAE is increasingly proving that it can do exactly that.
Home Integrator
MAJID AL FUTTAIM AND DUBAI SME EXPAND MA’AN TO SHOWCASE HOMEGROWN SMES AT MALL OF THE EMIRATES
Majid Al Futtaim, a leading developer and operator of shopping malls, communities, retail and leisure destinations across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), has expanded Ma’an by Majid Al Futtaim, with the launch of its latest customer-facing showcase at Mall of the Emirates. The initiative marks a significant milestone in Ma’an’s evolution, creating direct market access for Dubai’s homegrown businesses and connecting them with millions of consumers across one of the region’s most visited retail and leisure destinations.
The launch was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by senior representatives from Majid Al Futtaim and Dubai SME, officially opening the showcase to visitors. This exciting concept provides customers the opportunity to discover and shop for Dubai based homegrown brands across fashion, jewellery, food, lifestyle and design-led retail, all under one roof, reflecting the breadth and quality of entrepreneurial talent already established across the city.
Ma’an was created to help Dubai based entrepreneurs gain greater visibility, reach new customers, and unlock practical opportunities for growth. To date, the initiative has supported close to 70 homegrown brands across the wider Majid Al Futtaim ecosystem, including retail, leisure, entertainment, and loyalty platforms. This growing network of participants reflects both the commercial readiness of Dubai’s SME community and the effectiveness of public–private collaboration in generating real market opportunities.
As part of the programme, 27 brands have been featured across destinations such as THAT Concept Store, VOX Cinemas, ACTIVATE, and iFLY, while 30 brands are participating in dedicated mall pop-ups across Majid Al Futtaim destinations. A further 12 brands have also been onboarded onto the SHARE Rewards Programme, extending their reach beyond the physical mall environment and connecting them with customers through Majid Al Futtaim’s digital loyalty ecosystem.
The first phase of Ma’an focused on opening applications and onboarding Dubai based SMEs into Majid Al Futtaim’s consumer ecosystem, giving selected brands access to retail, entertainment, loyalty, and marketing platforms across the group. With participating brands now integrated into customer-facing channels, the programme has moved into its second phase, focused on direct visibility, discovery, and market access.
This next phase reflects the importance of practical market access in supporting SME growth. By connecting homegrown brands with established retail environments, entertainment platforms, and digital engagement channels, Ma’an supports Dubai’s wider efforts to strengthen entrepreneurship, enable business growth, and increase the contribution of SMEs to the economy. As a cornerstone of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of the city’s economy by 2033, SME-enabling initiatives such as Ma’an play a direct role in building the commercial foundations required to sustain long-term, diversified growth.
Ahmad Al Room Almheiri, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Dubai SME), said: “Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to demonstrate its strength and resilience, and Ma’an by Majid Al Futtaim is a direct expression of that confidence, showing how public-private collaboration can create practical growth opportunities for SMEs. By connecting homegrown brands with established consumer destinations and digital platforms, the programme gives entrepreneurs direct access to customers, visibility and commercial insight to support sustainable growth.
“Dubai SME’s focus continues to be on ensuring that entrepreneurs are given the market access and partnerships needed to grow. Initiatives such as Ma’an strengthen the bridge between emerging businesses and major private sector platforms, advancing the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a city where SMEs can scale with confidence. As global conditions continue to evolve, Dubai is committed to enabling its business community, and this programme is a tangible outcome of that commitment.”
Khalifa Bin Braik, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, said: “Ma’an was created around a simple belief: extraordinary businesses already exist across the UAE, but many still face barriers when it comes to access, visibility, and scale. Through Ma’an, we are opening Majid Al Futtaim’s ecosystem to help address those challenges in a practical and tangible way.
“By giving homegrown brands access to customers, retail environments, loyalty platforms and live experiences, we are creating opportunities that would traditionally take years to build independently. This is more than a moment of visibility; it is a platform for growth. The founders participating in Ma’an represent the creativity, resilience, and ambition of the UAE’s SME community, and we are proud to support them as they take their next step.”
Following its debut at Mall of the Emirates, the Ma’an roadshow will continue to City Centre Mirdif and City Centre Deira, spending two weeks at each destination and introducing customers to a new selection of Dubai based SMEs and homegrown businesses.
Through Ma’an, Majid Al Futtaim and Dubai SME continue to support homegrown businesses by creating tangible pathways to customers, visibility, and commercial growth, while strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors to support the UAE’s entrepreneurial community.
-
News11 years ago
SENDQUICK (TALARIAX) INTRODUCES SQOOPE – THE BREAKTHROUGH IN MOBILE MESSAGING
-
Trending8 months agoOPPO A6 Pro 5G Review: Reliable Daily Driver
-
Tech News2 years agoDenodo Bolsters Executive Team by Hiring Christophe Culine as its Chief Revenue Officer
-
VAR1 year agoMicrosoft Launches New Surface Copilot+ PCs for Business
-
Automotive2 years agoAGMC Launches the RIDDARA RD6 High Performance Fully Electric 4×4 Pickup
-
Tech Interviews2 years ago
Navigating the Cybersecurity Landscape in Hybrid Work Environments
-
Tech News11 months agoNothing Launches flagship Nothing Phone (3) and Headphone (1) in theme with the Iconic Museum of the Future in Dubai
-
VAR2 years agoSamsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Clash Of The Folding Phenoms


